Coulson Celebrates Tour Success

Coulson, the Queensland Indigenous women's captain, led the national team at the inaugural PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational, which was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea last month as part of the celebration of the nation’s 50th anniversary of independence. 

The week-long PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational was supported by the Australian Government and Cricket Australia, and featured the Australian Women’s Indigenous team alongside teams from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Samoa. 

The T20 tournament was supported through the Australian Government's PacificAus Sports program, which creates opportunities for Pacific athletes, coaches, officials and administrators to access high performance training and elite competition.

Coulson led Australia to a 5-1 win/loss record from the tournment, claiming second spot behind the host nation with the PNG Lewas finishing first due to a sllightly superior run-rate.

The allrounder, who works as a physiotherapist away from cricket, was joined by fellow Queenslanders Grace Abdy, Dharmini Chauhan and Clodagh Ryall in the squad. Coulson (Valley), Abdy (Valley) and Ryall (Wynnum-Manly) play in the Katherine Raymont Shield in the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition while Chauhan plays in Mackay.

Coulson was the player of the tournament at the recent National Indigenous Cricket Championships held on Yuwibara land in Mackay, with Queensland finishing as runners-up to first-time winners Western Australia that was led by former Queensland player Mikayla Hinkley.

The squad featured several contracted players from across the country, including Ella Hayward (Victoria), Mikayla Hinkley (WA/Perth Scorchers), Anika Learoyd (NSW/Sydney Thunder), and Emma Manix-Geeves (Tasmania/Hobart Hurricanes). Sydney Thunder and recent Australian player Hannah Darlington was an assistant coach for the tournament.

While Coulson has previously led the Australian team in high-profile matches at the MCG, this tour marks a new chapter in her leadership journey.

“It’s an absolute privilege,” she told NITV.

“I’m still learning, but I’ve got some incredible players beside me who I can lean on.”

Coulson said representing their culture on the international stage was a highlight for all the players.

“We're not just representing Australia – we're representing our culture,” Coulson said.

“Every time we step onto the field, we carry that with us.”

“Sharing our stories and learning from each other helps us play better together,” she said.

“It’s something we prioritise as a group.”

Coulson said tours such as this were a vital element in developing more opportunites for Indigenous players.

“You can’t be what you can’t see,” she said.

“This tour shows there’s a pathway, and that cricket is a space where we belong.”

Coulson spoke to Queensland Cricket staff as part of National Reconciliation Week. prior to her departure for the tour last month.